spangler



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

AJfH. SPANG'LER.

BALL RAGKPOR PooL TABLES.

-N0. 288,67'5. `Pmnted Nov 20,1883.

Eazy. l y

All

' al I 67%? (No Model!) J. H. SPANGLER.

BALL RACK FOR POOL TABLES.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Nov. 2O

Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. SPANGLER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BALL-RACK FOR PooL-TAeLs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,675, ydated November 20, 1883. Application filed July 24, 1883 (No model.)

T all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN H. SPANGLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Ball-Racks for Pool-Tables and IA do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and `exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

This invention relates to certain improvements in ball-racks for pool-tables, whereby the balls may be readily discharged from the several shelves or racks to a common separate receptacle without necessitating their being handled or touched. y i

The invention consists, essentially, in a frame Vhaving a series of shelves or racks, each having pivotal connection at one corner of each end within the side bars or ends of the frame or case and at the opposite corner 4of the other end, having` a pin or stud which enters and rides within segmental slotsforined in one side bar or end, a vertical lever or bar having a series of holes or perforations adapted to receive said pins or studs and to move obliquely across the outer face of the slotted side bar, and having on its outer face an outwardly-projecting pin, by means of which said rack-operating lever is actuated, a spring attached at one end to the case, and having a dog or lug thereon for the purpose of supporting the rack-operating lever in position, a

push-pin adapted to engage with the free end of the spring for the purpose of pressing the same ont of contact with the operatinglever, whereby said lever is rendered free to loscillate and turn the shelves or racks, and a beveled or angular pocket at the bottom of the case or frame for receiving and guiding the balls, when the racks or shelves are tilted, to a discharge shutter or door at the bottom of the case.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l V represents a front elevation of my improved ball-rack, with the shelves or racks up in hori- Vzontal position and adapted to receive the balls. Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of the same, part ofthe frame being removed to show the operative parts. Fig. 3 represents a horizontal section on the line x oi' Fig. l. Y

an end elevation, a part of the frame being removed, showing the shelves down and the operating-lever released from its retaining spring. Figs. 7 and Sshow, respectively, detail views of the operating-lever -and one of the shelves or racks.

In ball-racks as usually constructed it is necessary to handle the balls more or less in the `acts o f removing them from registering position, discharging and placing them upon the table. The balls thus in a short time become discolored and griiny by reason of the contact of the hands therewith. By my arrangement all contact ot the hands with the balls during these operations is avoided, which results in insuring to the balls a better appearance after long usage, and also insures their rolling easily at al1 times.

A represents the frame or case, which, as shown in the drawings, is composed of a back, a., side or end pieces, b, top c, and `bottom d; but any shape or construction of the frame or case other than that shown may be employed, as desired or found convenient.

B represents the shelves or racks, which are at one end pivoted at their front edges or corners within the side or end piece, b, adjacent thereto, as shown at d. Each4 shelf is at its opposite end correspondingly pivoted, as shown at e, within the opposite end piece,` b. The rear edge of each shelf is further provided with a pin, f, at one end. One ofthe side or-end pieces, b, has formed therein a series of segmental slots, g, within which the pins f slide and have bearing. The number of these slots g corresponds to thc `number oi shelves employed.

O represents a cap-plate adapted to fit over and coverthe side within which the slots g IOO hinged.

.2 essere are formed, and within which the shelves have movement.

D represents a bar or lever having a series of holes, l1., through or within which the outer ends ofthe pinsj' pass. t represents a pin or stud which projects from the outer face of said lever or bar, and when the cap-.plate C is placed in position this pin or stud t' extends through a segmental slot, j, in said capplat'e, in order that it may be within easy reach of any one desiring to operate the device.

E represents a spring, which has suitable connection at one end with or in the frame, its free end depending within a slot in the frame, as shown. This spring is provided with a lug or dog, k, which, when the shelfoperating lever or bar is in the position shown in Fig. 2, will support said barin its position.

F represents a push-pin, which extends through the front ot' the ease, its inner end resting against the lower or free end ofthe spring E. Upon pushing this pin F inward its rear end will be forced against the free end of the spring and push the same rearwardly, which act will force the dog t' from beneath the bar D and allow it to drop down in an oblique direction across the face of the slots 0, its mov ement downward being assisted by the operator pressing downward upon the pin t' upon said bar D.

G represents the pocket within which the balls drop upon the shelves B, being turned down in the manner represented in Figs. 5 and 6. The sides and ends of this pocket or receptacle are beveled or sloping. as shown, in order that the balls, as they fall down, shall pass unimpededly within said pocket..

II represents a shutter or door arranged within the bottom ofthe case, through which the balls are discharged to a basket or other receptacle, I, beneath. This door or shutter may be of any desired form, either sliding or In the drawings I have shown it as hinged and provided with a spring lock or catch, but I do not desire to limit myself to such arrangement, as other torms may be used with advantage. The case is suspended in any convenient position, so as to leave suf ieient space beneath for the placing Jthereunder ot' a basket or other suitable receptacle for receiving the balls as the shutter or door is opened. I nd in practice that it is very advantageous to employ in this connection asmall ordinary open-topped basket, as I, as

. thereby, when said basket is placed beneath the case, in the manner shown in Fig. 5, the shutter or door H can drop down therein, the balls readily fall within said basket, andthe basket be readily removed from position beneath said ca-se and taken to the table and the balls dumped thereon in the proper position by simply turning the basket bottom upward.

The method of operating my improved device is very simple. Vhen the balls are in the position shown in Fig. l, or in any analogous position of registry, and it is desired to remove them from the racks and place them in position for usein registering another game, theoperator with one thumb or finger presses upon the outer projecting end of the pin F, which act pushes the dog 7c away from the bottom of the bar D. Then at the same moment he presses downward upon the pin fr', which act forces down the shelves or racks B, connected therewith, and causes the balls to drop down to the bottom of the case. lThen he opens the door I-I, whereupon the balls contained within the pocket G will drop out therefrom to and within the removable basket or other receptacle, I. The removal of the balls having thus been effected,as just described, upon releasing the pressure ot' the thumb or finger upon the outer end of the pin F, and also releasing the pressure uponthe pin z', the shelves B, bar D, and spring ,Il will return to their normal positions ot' rest, as shown in Fig. 2, and the rack will then be in position to again receive the balls in their registering positions.

Having thus described my invention ,what I claim as new is- In a ball-rack for pool-tables, the frame or ease A, having in the side or end a series of slots, g, the shelves B, pivot-ally mounted at both ends within the frame and having pins or studs, an operating lever or bar adapted to receive the outer ends of said pins, and having on its outer i'ace an outwardly-projecting stud or pin, spring E, having dog or lug k, and a push-pin, F, substantially as and for the pur pose set forth.

In testimony whereotl I my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. SPANGLER.

W'i tn esses:

E. A. REID, Guo. F. GRAHAM.

IOO 

